Hildebrand (also known as Dalifol and
Brighton Steamer)1889-96

Steam engined
motorcycle

In 1889, Heinrich and Wilhelm Hildebrand of
Munich built a prototype motorcycle with a steam engine. In the early 1890's
they abandoned the steam design. The prototype motorcycle next appeared in 1896
in the first London to Brighton Emancipation Run when it was entered by M.
Lormont who had worked for the Hildebrand brothers. The machine was described as
the "Dalifol" and thought to be French in origin. The Hidebrand failed to
make it all the way to Brighton in 1896 and spent 44 years at the Newhaven depot
of the Southern Railway, waiting for M. Lormont to claim it. It was given to the
Science Museum of London in 1940 and was exhibited there as "the Brighton
Steamer" until 1956 when Heinrich L. Hildebrand (son of Heinrich Hildebrand)
identified it as the prototype built in 1889 by his father and uncle.

The French however do claim the Dalifol for
themselves and as the following picture shows an alternative model was made,
seemingly with shaft drive, from 1895-1900.